The Mystic Masseur was Naipaul's first novel, and it is probably the best known of his works (a movie has been turned out by Messrs. Merchant & Ivory). The main character is one Ganesh Ramsumair, the son of an Indian immigrant to Trinidad, who seems to be blessed by fortune. Each time he is in danger of taking a wrong turn, his fate steps in and gently nudges him in the right direction. Ganesh first attends school in Port of Spain, where he feels inadequate and has only one friend, clever anglophile Indarsingh, who leaves for Oxford upon graduation. Ganesh then attends a teacher's college, and takes a position as an elementary school teacher. He is not a success and resigns his position for a life of idleness, which is ended when his father dies, bequeathing to him some land and some royalties from an oil company. When attending his father's funeral he meets his formidable relation, The Great Belcher, who is one of these wise elderly Indian women who are accostumed to running funerals, marriages, businesses and lives for their younger folk. He also meets Ramlogan, extremely unpleasant owner of a rhum shop who is quarrelsome but cowardly, and not above any underhandedness (he will turn up again and play a crucial part in Naipaul's "The Suffrage of Elvira"), whose daughter Leela he marries. Much more devious than would appear initially, Ganesh takes advantage of Ramlogan's pride and extracts from him a house in a remote village and a significant dowry. This is fortunate, because at this time the oil royalty checks stop coming in. Ganesh and Leela move into the Ramlogan's house, and quickly become acquainted with the local rhum-shop owner, Suruj Poopa, who becomes Ganesh's true friend and sounding board. Ganesh spends several years doing nothing much except reading and trying to launch a career as a masseur, but he is apparently not very good at it. He even writes a short book on the Hindu religion, but it doesn't sell. Leela, desperate at his lack of direction tries to convince him to take a job working for the Americans in their military base (WWII is now in force), but fate takes a hand when the Great Belcher and Suruj Poopa advice Ganesh to become a mystic. As a mystic he is extremely successful, performing miraculous cures and eventually becoming a public figure. His prosperity communicates to the entire village where he lives, and to his friends the Surujs, and even his father in law, with whom he quarrels again and again. Eventually, after defeating his rival Narayan (peculiar, this choice of a name) he becomes a leader of the Hindu vote in Trinidad, and a Member of the Legislative Chamber. Initially a leftist (he and Indarsingh try to articulate the theory of Socialinduism, a melange of Hindu nationalism and scientific socialism) and a firebrand (frequently arrested for criticizing government corruption), he then becomes a pillar of the establishment, and is finally rechristened Sir Gordon Ramsay, OBE. His Trinidadian dialect becomes the cut-glass accent of the BBC and his Indian garb is replaced by a bespoke vested suit.The story, thus told, loses the sense of destiny that Naipaul is able to weave in through the expert use of atmosphere and character. The self-discovery of Ganesh from his humble origins is very well-rendered, and many characters are memorable(especially Leela, Ramlogan, Suruj Poopa and an unnamed boy who helps Ganesh edit his newspaper). The liberating power of reading the great books (which is what Ganesh reads, rather than the lowbrow fare that Mohun Biswas gobbles up in "A House for Mister Biswas") is something that must have rung true for Naipaul (as it did for this reviewer). Several themes (the power of small events to have great consequences, and the almost unlimited scope for personal re-invention) were probably also derived from the author's own experience. This book is a triumph and a jewel.
V.S Naipaul's first novel. The novel is set in the forties and fifties of the 20th century. During then, Trinidad and most of the surrounding islands were occupied by the British. Ganesh, who had studied his school education at his home town, were being sent to a nearby city to pursue his higher studies. There he was not very comfortable with his living conditions but he managed to do well at his studies. He had some tryst with teaching profession but it was unsuccessful. When he returned to his home town for his father's funeral, he could see many unknown people at his father's deathbed. He didn't know how to react and he didn't have enough money to do the funeral. Some distant relatives had helped him along with one of his father's friends. After that, he was idle for some months with out knowing what to do.He was just roaming around the town. The people in his place had good respect for him as he was educated and was a teacher also. His father's friend had a grocery shop and he had some plots and houses in some places also. He had a daughter at marriageable age. Ganesh started to spend more time in his shop as he had nothing to do. As his father's friend had great respect for his father and for him, he wanted him to marry his daughter. The author's description of the marriage ceremony was very funny and it clearly reflected the mindset of the people in those times. He got a house in a remote location as his dowry and some money too. After moving to the new house along with his wife, he was idle for some time. His wife were always reprimanding him for not doing anything. He wanted to try his hand in writing. He wrote a book but it didn't do well. Then he wanted to start practice as a masseur. But his well wishers advised him not to do that as he was educated and these kind of jobs were being done by quacks and illiterate people.As his house was located in a very remote place, no body came to him for some years. When some one came also, they were not impressed with him. But one day, his fortunes were going to be changed. It came in the form of a young boy who had the illusion of seeing a dark cloud coming close to him day by day. Ganesh successfully uprooted the fear and illusion from the boy's heart. How Ganesh had done that was a very funny and witty part which was very well illustrated. The parents of the boy were so happy that they were heaping praise on Ganesh in their place and many people started flowing in to see him and get remedied from their disturbances. He became very popular and wrote his second book which did very well and gave him recognition. He then decided to try his hand at Politics where he was challenged by his old friend in school. What were the tricks and plans he had done to get in to the post were written with good humor. That is one of the best parts in this book. The mindset of the Trinidad people then in the fifties were well illustrated. The protagonist's war with his father-in-law and his methods of politics and his survival tactics were well written with wit and humor. A great book for a debutante! Worth a read!
What do You think about The Mystic Masseur (2003)?
RatingThis is charming novel and the first work by V.S Naipaul who was awarded the Nobel Prize for this book. Moreover, the movies was filmed in Trinidad and was released in 2001. It will be interesting to watch the movie too. I was impressed by Ganesh's success later in the novelRecommendation : I would like to recommend this book for people who desire to succed in theier futre. This bokk describes well how someone can control their mind psychologically. If your mind is ver messy, it will absolutely help you to organize your mind.Summary: About 1940 in Trinidad, Tobago which is located in the Southern Caribbean, Ganesh(main chracter) leaves his teaching job in the city and returns to his hometown, where his father had died, and decided to become a masseur, like his father. When Ganesh marries Leela(daughter of Rmalogan) (Rmalogan- Friend of Ganeh's father who made Ganesh marry his daughter), he begins to write his books. As he becomes a masseur he becomes so well-known that he can cure every patient with his mystic air. Through healing patients, he earned a reputation form the people. Now, Ganesh personally realized that he must make a living and tries a few odd jobs such as a mystic. People fly over the country wanting his help in driving some demon out of someone. However, Ganesh's experiences as a school teacher, masseur and wirter were not successful in his life but eventually he got tremendous sucess later in the novel. Naipaul convinces us that sucess does not come in one day. Ganesh patiently preapred and got own skills by reading many books and finally he rises his power as politician.
—Sht1397
This is one of those quirky little books that is in its own category. This isn't to say that it is a masterpeice, but as a first novel, it definitely makes me want to read more from the author.I loved the attempt at regional dialect, but it does conflict at times with the authors sense of humor (which, when clear, is quite good) and the flow of the story. Also, I have read that Naipaul has been attacked by critics for displaying the poor in a negative manner. In this book it is apparent that the argument does have some weight (some funny weight). Editing, especially the last quarter of the book (which seemed more hastily written), is also a poor point. His characters are all very interesting and built well, and loveable as the yokels they are portrayed as. All in all, I would say to give this book a try, especially if you enjoy reading about life below the States. In that, this is a welcome change in typical literature of that category.
—Jared
This is Naipaul’s first novel, published in 1957, an amusing, if snarky, little satire on life in the Hindu community of Trinidad. The comedy in the novel is in the contrast between the island’s backwater reality and its pretensions to quality. The protagonist is one Ganesh Ramsumair, the best educated member in his community. Ganesh fails at teaching, marries “well,” and removes to a small village where he establishes himself first as a masseur, then a mystic, then a politician. In between he writes books—which Naipaul portrays as rare articles in this culturally deprived desert. He goes native in his incarnation as a mystic, embracing Indian traditional dress and beliefs, but returns to the West to earn his MBE, even modifying his name to G. R. Muir to maximize the distance between ghetto and governor’s palace, but this latter morphing comes in the book’s final page or two, a rushed and unconvincing final twist. The talent is visible but this is an immature work done with skill that falls short of anything more than a diverting comedy of manners, with its toothless bite landing on the ankle, not of the colonial masters, but their social, cultural, and economic inferiors.
—Rick
